Chromium picolinate is a dietary supplement purported to facilitate weight loss. The chromium is combined with picolinate with the intention of increasing the capability of the human body to absorb it. The dietary guideline for adequate chromium consumption set by the Institute of Medicine in 2001 is 20 to 45 μg. A typical serving of broccoli, mashed potatoes, orange juice or turkey breast contains 1 to 13 μg of chromium. A number of products feature chromium picolinate as an ingredient, including nutrition bars, chewing gums, pills and sports drinks.
No Proven Weight Loss
If you need to shed pounds to improve your health or a medical condition, relying on chromium picolinate as a weight loss supplement to help you reach your goals may be dangerous. Although chromium picolinate supplements are touted as a natural supplement for weight loss, scientific evidence does not back this claim. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial including healthy but overweight adults examining the efficacy of chromium picolinate for weight loss was conducted by the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Derby, Connecticut. The results, published in the March, 16 2010 issue of the "Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine" found a diet that included 1000 micrograms of chromium picolinate for 24 weeks did not affect weight loss better than a placebo, even in patients that also received nutritional education.
Not FDA Approved
Chromium picolinate dietary supplements and drugs have not been found by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be safe or effective as a treatment for any health condition, according to information provided by Daily Med, a National Institutes of Health website providing current medication information. Additionally, chromium picolinate has not been proven to prevent health conditions or affect the body in such a way as to enhance athletic performance.
Interaction with Medications
Consuming a diet with chromium picolinate supplements can cause dangerous reactions when combined with medications. According to information provided by Drugs.com, chromium picolinate may have a moderate interaction with at least 64 medications including fosamax, insulin and penicillamine.
Genotoxicity
A limited body of scientific evidence suggests that chromium picolinate is genotoxic. A genotoxic agent is dangerous to the human body and can damage DNA which causes genetic mutations that may result in malignant and benign tumors along with other health complications. However, a study conducted by the National Toxicology Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina found exposure to chromium picolinate was not carcinogenic to male or female mice. The results, published in the April 2010 issue of the journal "Food Chemical Toxicology", found no increased rate of cancer even in long term, two-year studies where 100 rats and mice were fed daily diets containing 0, 2,000, 10,000, or 50,000 ppm chromium picolinate monohydrate for 105 weeks.
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